PWA B747-400

2021 Saw the introduction of a new corporate image for PWA, the airline was fully acquired by parent airline American Overseas Airways, this saw the rebrand of Pacific West Airways to Pacwest inline with the recent corporate image update to AOA which is now seen as Overseas.

Shown above is the "new" N747PW built in 1998 which replaced the original N747PW which was the airline's and world's first Boeing 747, the current N747PW was the first of 22 Boeing 747-400s to join the fleet, the airline did succeed in acquiring all 22 747-400s, however with the initial acquisition of PWA by AOA the fleet changed drastically, 12 of the younger 747s where immediately transferred to AOA to bolster their growing fleet of 20 aircraft. With now 10 747-400s left with PWA and major cut taken from the European market after many routes became operated by AOA instead due to the parents insistence of operating all Trans-Atlantic and "arctic" services. PWA however would succeed in retaining 8 routes those being: London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow (Now Terminated due to sanctions), Rome, Madrid, Dubai and Riyadh. However AOA granted PWA all key Trans-Pacific services but because of the major cut to the 747-400 fleet by 2010 the airline was forced to order the newer 777-200LR and 300ER aircraft, and so in 2012 the airline placed an order for 38 Boeing 777-200LRs and 777-300ERs, these longer and extended ranged 777s would join the airline's existing fleet of 20 777-200/ER aircraft. The 38 aircraft order would consist of 18 777-200LRs and 20 777-300ERs with further options for 6 -200LRs and 14 -300ERs.

The 10 747-400s however fought their way through and stood their test of time, especially during the COVID-19 Pandemic which saw all but 1 grounded until further notice. N749PW would be utilized to fly freight in a "preighter" configuration between the United States, China and Europe which joined several 777-300ERs performing the same task. 2021 also saw a further 2 747s be reactivated to help out flying US Troops and evacuated refugees from Afghanistan after the US withdrawal of the respective country. Eventually by the middle of 2022 all 747-400s returned to service and will most of them topping 26 years old they surprisingly lack a retirement plan much to AOAs dislike, and so by the end of 2022 the fleet of 10 Jumbos were repainted in the standard 2021 Pacwest livery.

N747PW's livery also pays a small homage to the original N747PW by being called the "Pacific Cruiser".

Many thanks go to Ro, for the livery design and allowing me to edit it as I see fit to the aircraft as part of the Pacwest fleet.